A Major Haul Out – Adventure on the Hard
During the fall and winter of 2023, the Adventure team has been hard at work on a planned Haul Out funded by generous grants from the City of Gloucester Community Preservation Committee, private foundations, and donations from individuals. Adventure is required by the United States Coast Guard to periodically haul out to perform routine maintenance and safety checks. The Captain, Mate, and a team of volunteers have put in thousands of hours, alongside the pros at Gloucester Marine Railways, doing reconnaissance and preservation work to make sure the vessel stays strong and safe for sailing in 2024.
Rudder: The existing rudder and stock which date back to at least 1950, (and are speculated to be 1926 originals) have been removed. The design for the replacements is in the works with the rudder being initially constructed at Back Narrows Boatyard and delivered to GMR for final shaping and installation. The bronze pintles and gudgeons will be realigned and refaced to allow smoother steerage action.
Propeller: The existing propeller has been removed and the aperture around it has been shaped to allow more for more efficient water flow. The new propeller has a greater pitch so that the engine will operate more efficiently, extending the life of the engine.
Masts: The masts have been removed for inspection and preventative maintenance. Upon initial inspection, the masts have been found to be healthy. The masts will be sounded by the shipwrights to further confirm no heart rot is present. Some early signs of rot were found in some of the framing aloft, which has been pulled off for replacement to inhibit any spread to the masts. In addition to overhauling the masts,maintenance on board that cannot be accessed with the masts in place is being performed.
Caulking & Painting: Routine seam maintenance will ensure the watertight integrity of the hull. The hull and bottom will be painted with anti-fouling marine paint generously donated by corporate sponsor INTERLUX / AkzoNobel.
Recently a group of board members, staff, and friends of Adventure visited the railways to learn more from our Captain and volunteers. Check out the video here
Together we steward this magnificent National Historic Landmark schooner. Major haul outs are a major part of our mission to preserve New England fishing heritage.
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